Vanderbilt Finds its Starting QB in LSU Transfer Stephen Rivers

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Rivers is eligible immediately in 2014.

Vanderbilt Finds its Starting QB in LSU Transfer Stephen Rivers

Vanderbilt heads into its first season under Derek Mason with uncertainty at quarterback, but the Commodores officially added LSU transfer Stephen Rivers into the mix on Wednesday. Rivers graduated from LSU, so he will be eligible to play immediately in 2014. The junior is expected to start for Vanderbilt in 2014, with Patton Robinette or Johnny McCrary battling for the No. 2 job.

In three years at LSU, Rivers threw two passes in mop-up duty and played in four career games.

The Alabama native is the brother of San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers and was a three-star recruit as a high school senior.

Although Rivers doesn’t have much experience, his addition bolsters a thin quarterback depth chart for Mason.

At 6-foot-7 and 223 pounds, Rivers is an intriguing prospect and will have to get acclimated to the offense in a hurry. Vanderbilt opens the year with Temple, followed by a SEC date against Ole Miss in Week 2.

New coordinator Karl Dorrell is expected to lean heavily on the ground game, but if Rivers develops into a solid option at quarterback, the Commodores should reach a bowl game for the fourth consecutive season.

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